Willow Medical Aesthetics is a medical clinic specializing in women’s wellness and needs. Aging, combined with lifestyle and stress factors, brings unwanted visible effects, but with some help it is possible to retain a youthful appearance. The team at Willow Medical Aesthetics is committed to providing clinical treatments with excellent aftercare. Using only quality products and established procedures, with expert skincare and supplements, they can advise on your skin and feminine needs. Complimentary consultations allow clients to learn how the clinic’s Medical Aesthetics, Laser, and Spa treatments, can help them look and feel their best at any age.

COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s life, including people who gamble. Although in-person gambling venues such as casinos and bingo halls are closed, online gambling remains available 24/7, not only on the sanctioned BCLC site, but also internationally. Concerns about increased time and money spent online gambling have been top of mind in the helping community here at the BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program. Our FREE services continue, including virtual options (telephone and videoconferencing) for counselling, outreach support as well as prevention and education. The Gambling Support Line (1-888-795-6111) remains available 24/7. Any other inquiries can be made at Problem.Gambling@gov.bc.ca.

Many of us live in a world where we have ready access to vast sums of digital technology right at our finger tips. Although this can be useful in keeping us connected, it also comes with some negative side effects, as your brain becomes reliant on the silent cyber connection. Taking occasional breaks from the digital world and increasing our mindful presence can have many positive health benefits. It can improve your sleep and mood, reduce irritability, and improve your overall mental health. By taking the occasional digital fast, you can boost your brain’s natural healing ability.

A strong immune system equips the body with the defenses necessary to fight infectious diseases and cancers and assists in recovering from illness. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there is no time like the present to work on improving yours. A brief increase in body temperature during and directly following exercise may prevent bacteria from growing and may also help the body fight infection. Exercise helps regulate the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for regulating body temperature. Moderate exercise has been shown to bolster the function of certain components of the human immune system-such as natural killer cells, circulating T-and B-lymphocytes, and cells of the monocyte-macrophage system- thereby possibly decreasing the incidence of some infections.

We have all heard about the power of positive thinking, but did you know that negative thinking is more powerful by more than 10 times! That felt really disappointing to me when I first heard this, until I realized there is a middle ground. NEUTRAL THINKING! This is a place that is neither positive nor negative, it is what is TRUE. When you add in the positive or negative that is an opinion or an emotion and, that is what is challenging. If you can get to a place of neutral thinking, then you can make a choice to think about a good choice and be positive about it.

Q: I have cataracts but I don’t want to get surgery for it because I’d like to maintain my ability to read in bed without glasses – am I correct in this thinking?

A: No, you probably have options for that. If it’s determined that you ought to have cataract surgery, just ask your optometrist or eye surgeon to plan around your wishes by choosing a desirable strength or design of the lens implants (which are used for the surgery).

Are you interested in yoga but held back by concerns of injury, inexperience, or inability? In July, Heather led a successful Yoga Foundations series that introduced a small group of newbies to the practice. From the building blocks of movement to experimenting with sequences, Heather taps into her massage therapy background to focus on the individual needs of her students, prioritizing their safety and self-care capabilities. Another series starts in September and you are welcome to join! For more information and registration, visit www.getbodywell.com or email Heather directly at heathergreenrmt@gmail.com.

Hydrosols, also known as “flower waters,” are produced by distilling fresh leaves, fruits, flowers, and other plant materials. A hydrosol’s properties are similar to those of its essential oil, but they are more gentle. They can be used in creams, lotions, compresses, facial misters, body sprays and other recipes. Hydrosols are soothing and antiseptic- great for skin rashes, burns & after sun. Gentle enough to be used on children, pets, and the elderly, where essential oils may be too powerful. Do not take internally. We recommend keeping your hydrosols in the fridge to extend their shelf life as well as refresh you on a hot day.